Politics, Government and Business in Southern California's Inland Empire
May 02, 2013; 02:17 PM
SACRAMENTO – In a rare legislative setback for members of Inland Southern California’s powerful tribal casino industry, the Assembly narrowly passed legislation ratifying a gaming compact between the Brown administration and a Central Valley tribe.
To read story by Jim Miller in The Press Eneterpise, click here.
Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
By Melody Gutierrez
April 15, 2013
Two Republican-backed measures to repeal a fire prevention fee levied on some rural California residents cleared an Assembly committee Monday.
April 10, 2013; 05:55 PM
SACRAMENTO — A committee hearing Thursday, April 11, will offer an early indication of whether an Assembly Republican plan touted as a way to increase transparency inside the Capitol has any chance at success.
To read story by Jim Miller in The Press Enterprise, click here.
Andrew Edwards, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/17/2013 05:51:58 PM PDT
The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association has formally served three state agencies with a class-action lawsuit intended to overturn a controversial “fire tax” levied on Californians who live in some the state’s forested areas.
March 06, 2013; 03:55 PM
SACRAMENTO – Inland Southern California lawmakers received more than $50,000 in gifts and travel from businesses, unions, and other groups in 2012, according to recently filed economic disclosure documents.
To read story by Jim Miller in The Press Enterprise, click here.
Staff Reports
Posted: 01/20/2013 03:47:15 PM PST
Updated: 01/20/2013 06:23:26 PM PST
The Inland Empire’s legislative delegation is well-represented in committee assignments announced earlier this month. Several local members have been chosen for leadership positions on key panels.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013 – 09:15 a.m.
Here’s some news of interest flowing across the transom this week.
San Bernardino County Supe’s elect Rutherford chair
The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors unanimously elected Second District Supervisor Janice Rutherford as it’s new chairperson. Second District Supervisor Gary Ovitt will be vice-chair.
THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE
January 06, 2013; 06:33 PM
You’ve spent more than a year running for Congress, endured millions of dollars in attacks from your opponent and shadowy Super PACs, and yet still prevailed.
To read column by Jeff Horseman, Imran Ghori and Jim Miller in The Press Enterprise, click here.
December 16, 2012; 02:25 PM
The Riverside County Democratic Central Committee celebrated President Barack Obama’s win in the county last month.
But then came concerns that the president would harsh the mellow of voters in Washington and Colorado after they legalized marijuana for recreational use.
To read column by Ben Goad and Jim Miller in The Press Enterprise, click here.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012 – 09:00 a.m.
Republican Assemblyman Mike Morrell turned back a challenge by Businessman Russ Warner (D-Rancho Cucamonga) Tuesday night.
Monday, November 5, 2012 – 10:30 a.m.
Last modified: Tuesday, November 6, 2012 0 08:30 a.m.
Here’s a few commonsense candidate recommendations, in select contests, for Riverside and San Bernardino County voters to consider.
Andrew Edwards, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/28/2012 07:06:10 AM PDT
Updated: 10/28/2012 11:22:13 PM PDT
The competition between Mike Morrell and Russ Warner for an Inland Empire Assembly seat has turned into a the kind of race in which one side has wrung an endorsement from a family dispute and the other claimed in an email to supporters that his opponent has “promoted domestic terrorism.”
ELECTION 2012
Andrew Edwards, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/27/2012 11:59:51 AM PDT
New districts and a revised elections system that allows candidates of the same party to compete in the general election are two new dynamics affecting this year’s elections for the state Legislature.
Here’s a summary of races affecting the Inland Valley, San Bernardino area and High Desert:
Andrew Edwards
Posted: 10/22/2012 09:27:39 PM PDT
The increasingly personal competition between Republican Mike Morrell and Democrat Russ Warner for the 40th Assembly District seat took a new turn today when Morrell’s camp issued a press release touting the endorsement of his opponent’s sister.
Saturday, October 13, 2012 – 09:00 a.m.
The San Bernardino County Sentinel newspaper has been a source of consternation for many Inland politicians.
That premise hasn’t changed.
By Neil Nisperos, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/12/2012 08:25:40 PM PDT
Updated: 10/12/2012 08:26:46 PM PDT
RANCHO CUCAMONGA–The federal court conviction of Aaron Sandusky for operating a large-scale marijuana grow operation is now a campaign talking point in the race for the 40th Assembly District,
Neil Nisperos, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/09/2012 08:58:28 PM PDT
Updated: 10/09/2012 09:10:50 PM PDT
Two Rancho Cucamonga businessmen are busy vying for votes to win election in the 40th Assembly District in which neither party has a clear-cut majority.
Published: 14 September 2012 – 08:24 PM
Three years after legislation penned by Inland Rep. Joe Baca was approved by Congress, golf icon Arnold Palmer was given the Congressional Gold Medal during a ceremony last week at the U.S. Capitol.
To read c0lumn by Jeff Horseman, Ben Goad and Jim Miller in The Press Enterprise, click here.
Published: 14 September 2012 – 06:44 PM
SACRAMENTO — For months, the race in San Bernardino County’s redrawn 40th Assembly District has been a low-wattage affair missing from lists of this fall’s competitive districts.
To read story by Jim Miller in The Press Enterprise, click here.
Point of view
Posted: 08/30/2012 09:02:41 AM PDT
In these last days of the legislative session we have seen the worst of the worst bills on the Assembly floor like AB 1436 which would open the door to voter fraud by allowing “same-day” voter registration with no identity verification. Or SB 1140 which would weaken Proposition 8, or SB 1234 which would force businesses to provide a one-size-fits-all approach to retirement savings managed by – get this – our broken state government.
Posted on | June 25, 2012
Legislation by state Sen. Bill Emmerson that would let counties raise recording fees on certain real-estate documents didn’t get a warm welcome Monday from many of his fellow Republicans in the Assembly.
The bill by Emmerson, R-Hemet, would allow counties to increase real-estate recording fees from $3 to $10, with the extra money paying to beef up real-estate fraud protection and prosecution. The California District Attorneys Association sponsored the measure.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012 – 09:45 a.m.
There were other contests that were mainly non-controversial in nature.
Here are those results.
STAFF REPORTS
Published: 23 March 2012 07:29 PM
State lawmakers had a debate last week about nothing.
Nothing, as in the contents of some six-dozen sparsely worded “spot,” or shell, bills that someday will contain hundreds of pages of legislation implementing California’s 2012-13 budget.
BY JULIET WILLIAMS
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: 13 March 2012 07:56 PM
SACRAMENTO — Lawmakers in the Assembly will hit the campaign trail this year, touting their votes on all manner of bills. Can we believe them? What they say may not be a true reflection of the stand they took when the bill was being debated.
California is one of at least 10 states in which some lawmakers can cast or change their votes after a bill has passed or failed.
Neil Nisperos and Benjamin Demers, Staff Writers
Created: 01/22/2012 06:22:41 PM PST
For two Rancho Cucamonga businessmen, the road to victory on Election Day in November got a tad easier in the wake of Rep. Jerry Lewis’ retirement earlier this month.
But before being able to represent the newly drawn 40th Assembly District, Republican Mike Morrell and Democrat Russ Warner will have to get past each other.
Staff report
Created: 01/17/2012 10:11:29 AM PST
Russ Warner announced Monday he had dropped out of the race for Congressional District 31, and will instead run for State Assembly District 40 against Republican Mike Morrell.
By PE Politics
January 3, 2012 8:56 AM
Assemblyman Mike Morrell ended 2011 with a $67,000 ball-drop into his 2012 re-election campaign, records show.
Neil Nisperos, Staff Writer
Created: 12/04/2011 06:03:30 AM PST
RANCHO CUCAMONGA – Election Day may be about 11 months away, but campaigning for the 40th Assembly District seat has quickly progressed.
Polling has been conducted, an endorsement has been made, fundraising has begun and the politicking has been ongoing.
Neil Nisperos and Benjamin Demers, Staff Writers
Posted: 11/28/2011 05:51:35 PM PST
Editor’s note: This is the third of a three-part series looking at the newly redrawn Inland Empire legislative districts for California’s Assembly. Sunday’s installment was Congress; on Monday we examined the California Senate.
When members of California’s Citizens Redistricting Commission compiled the state’s new political maps, they did so in hopes of ending gerrymandering.
An early look at Assembly races in this region seem to indicate they have succeeded in creating a more competitive atmosphere. The commission released the new maps in July.
BY JIM MILLER
SACRAMENTO BUREAU
jmiller@pe.com
Published: 27 November 2011 09:57 PM
SACRAMENTO – Instead of voting yes or no, members of Inland Southern California’s legislative delegation abstained on hundreds of bills that came before the full Assembly and Senate this year.
Neil Nisperos, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/06/2011 05:54:45 PM PST
Assemblyman Mike Morrell, R-Rancho Cucamonga, said he is moving to another home in Rancho Cucamonga because his current residence isn’t in the newly drawn 40th Assembly District.
Morrell plans to run for the 40th Assembly District in 2012.
By Neil Nisperos, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Created: 10/12/2011 04:50:16 PM PDT
Freshman assemblyman Mike Morrell, R-Rancho Cucamonga, might be facing a fellow Rancho politician when he’s up for re-election next year.
Neil Nisperos, Staff Writer
Created: 09/14/2011 09:57:14 PM PDT
Sacramento lawmakers from the Inland Empire have a number of bills recently signed into law, or sent to Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk for his signature or veto.
The bills moved through the state Legislature at a time of significant budgetary shortfall, unemployment and ongoing divisiveness over immigration, business regulations and taxes. Together, they have colored the political environment in Sacramento, for better and for worse, experts say.
09:55 PM PDT on Monday, August 29, 2011
The Press-Enterprise
Newly approved redrawn Assembly districts were not kind to Assemblyman Mike Morrell.
The Rancho Cucamonga Republican currently represents the Republican-leaning 63rd Assembly District, which extends from Upland to Yucaipa, with a small part of Riverside County thrown in.
10:00 PM PDT on Monday, August 29, 2011
BY JIM MILLER
SACRAMENTO BUREAU
jmiller@pe.com
SACRAMENTO – Does Assemblyman Kevin Jeffries’ office payroll rank among the highest in the Assembly, as shown in the Assembly expenditure data for the first seven months of 2011?
Assemblyman Mike Morrell
Political Notebook
10:00 PM PDT on Sunday, August 28, 2011
The Press-Enterprise
Newly approved redrawn Assembly districts were not kind to Assemblyman Mike Morrell.
By PE Politics
July 18, 2011 9:15 AM
A pair of Inland Southern California lawmakers are pushing separate bills prompted by the death of Florida toddler Caylee Anthony.
Casey Anthony, the girl’s mother, was acquitted of murder but convicted of lying to authorities about the girl’s whereabouts. Anthony was not reported missing for 31 days.
By PE Politics
July 15, 2011 11:15 AM
Lawmakers headed off on their summer recess this week, after sending several bills by Inland Southern California lawmakers to Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk.
State Controller John Chiang
10:00 PM PDT on Sunday, July 3, 2011
The Press-Enterprise
Word came late last week in the state Capitol that some Democratic lawmakers were jettisoning bills sponsored by Controller John Chiang.
By James Rufus Koren Staff Writer
Posted: 06/10/2011 09:42:17 PM PDT
After months of meetings and public input, the California Citizens Redistricting Commission on Friday released a first draft of what California’s new Assembly, Senate and Congressional districts could look like.
By PE Politics
May 31, 2011 2:17 PM
Legislative appropriations panels claimed dozens of Inland Southern California lawmakers’ bills late last week.
Morrell
By Mike Morrell
Posted: 05/26/2011 07:23:50 PM PDT
Gov. Jerry Brown presented his revised budget, traditionally called the May Revision, last week. There was some good news and some bad news.
The good news is an unanticipated $6.6 billion in new revenues. With unemployment in the Inland Empire hovering at 13 percent and an economy still rebounding from the Great Recession, some extra pocket change comes as a welcome surprise.
By PE Politics
May 23, 2011 4:01 PM
One of California’s largest public employee unions is targeting Inland Assemblyman Mike Morrell.
Morrell
By Molly Davis Staff Writer
Posted: 04/08/2011 06:31:33 PM PDT
MENTONE – Dozens of citizens concerned about the way their city and state governments were operating gathered to hear from a local politician.
Assemblyman Mike Morrell, R-Rancho Cucamonga, spoke to the members of the Redlands Tea Party Patriots about Gov. Jerry Brown’s budget at its regular meeting on Thursday night at Mill Creek Cattle Co.
11:39 PM PDT on Thursday, March 31, 2011
By JIM MILLER
Sacramento Bureau
SACRAMENTO – Legislators from Inland Southern California have introduced more than 200 bills this year, weighing in on subjects ranging from red-light cameras and the workplace to two-year budgets and aid for veterans.
11:46 PM PST on Tuesday, March 8, 2011
By JIM MILLER and BEN GOAD
The Press-Enterprise
California’s political landscape lurched to the east Tuesday as new census numbers point to a major increase in representation for Inland Southern California over the next decade.
James Rufus Koren, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/06/2011 10:25:59 PM PST
California’s political watchdog has released annual reports showing the gifts given to state lawmakers as well as their investments and income.
The forms, called statements of economic interest, show most San Bernardino County lawmakers are well-invested and commonly receive gifts from interest groups.
Area lawmakers say no to special election
Wendy Leung, Staff Writer
Created: 02/28/2011 08:39:44 PM PST
The question of whether voters in June will help decide how to fill the gaping budget deficit could depend on how many Republican legislators Gov. Jerry Brown can convince in the next week.
Morrell
By PE Politics
on February 2, 2011 12:06 PM
The beginning of every legislative floor session would include a reading from the U.S. Constitution under a resolution introduced by Assemblyman Mike Morrell, R-Rancho Cucamonga.
11:52 PM PST on Monday, January 31, 2011
By JIM MILLER
Sacramento Bureau
SACRAMENTO – Assemblyman Paul Cook knows the foundations of California government as well as any of his colleagues.
Cook, though, wasn’t buying it Monday when Gov. Jerry Brown invoked the California Constitution to pressure the Yucca Valley Republican and other GOP lawmakers to allow a public vote on a five-year extension of higher taxes.
James Rufus Koren, Staff Writer
Posted: 12/30/2010 07:14:12 PM PST
In 2010, Californians voted to make it easier for Democrats to pass a budget without Republican support, but they voted to make it impossible for Democrats to raise fees without Republicans on board.
In this year’s gubernatorial race, Californians chose a longtime politician, Democrat Jerry Brown, over an outsider, Republican Meg Whitman, while voters in a few local Assembly districts chose outsiders over experienced local officials.
Morrell
Assemblyman Mike Morrell
Created: 12/15/2010 07:31:24 PM PST
As a first-time elected official, I jumped into the task of representing the constituents of the 63rd Assembly District. In my first week I attended my first budget summit hosted by Gov.-elect Jerry Brown and his economic team for state legislators and officials. I walked in with the hope of serious proposals for slashing the deficit and putting California back on the path to prosperity. I left with the sinking realization that the conversation will again turn to raising our taxes, out-of-control spending, and looking to big government for solutions.
By PE Politics
on December 15, 2010 12:56 PM
Assembly Speaker John Perez, D-Los Angeles, released committee assignments Wednesday for the 2011-2012 session.
A few notables among the Inland Southern California delegation:
* Democrats picked up two seats in the last election, but Assemblyman Paul Cook remains chairman of the Assembly Veterans Affairs Committee. Cook, R-Yucca Valley, is one of just two Republican committee chairs in the Assembly.
10:51 PM PST on Sunday, December 5, 2010
By JIM MILLER
Sacramento Bureau
SACRAMENTO – They will join a shrunken Republican caucus that has lost influence on annual budget bills, but the newest members of Inland Southern California’s legislative delegation look forward to getting to work.
Mike Morrell and Tim Donnelly, avowed anti-tax conservatives from adjoining Assembly districts, will be sworn in today amid massive budget problems for the state.
James Rufus Koren, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/11/2010 04:56:10 PM PST
Though state lawmakers approved a budget just last month, legislators will go back to Sacramento in December to work on closing a $25 billion budget deficit.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday said he plans to call a special legislative session beginning Dec. 6, the day newly elected legislators will be sworn in. The announcement comes a day after the state Legislative Analyst’s Office projected a $6.1 billion deficit in the current fiscal year’s budget, which was approved only last month, and another $19 billion deficit in fiscal year 2011-12.
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